
To Everyone
THANK YOU
Just to clarify things, I decided to bring the attempt to an end at about 10.30 last night, so the record is well and truly broken but not by as far as I was aiming. However it’s still a world record at 74ish hours (I will confirm all the times when it has been officially counted up and agreed).
As usual I will be completely honest and up front about what happened, so I won't hide the fact that my decision to bring it to an end was mainly based on health grounds. During Wednesday afternoon I had something of a mental breakdown, it was extremely scary for me and even worse for friends and family who witnessed it, I was fine one minute then all of a sudden I didn't know where I was or what I was there for, people obviously explained what I was doing, but even so it was something I could not comprehend at all. I even had to be taught how to play poker-Literally everything from scratch. I complained that the blinds were not necessary and that there should be a flexible amount of community cards and that the game was too linear so should be played in a circle. Following that I felt like I was in a cage being taunted tortured and punished for a crime I didn't commit. Kay and all my best friends were all there, all trying to help by saying and doing the right things but they were powerless. The medical staff who were present were obviously also very worried wanted to call it off, but with the record so very near and with my forthright insistence to them that it should stop over my dead body they agreed to closely monitor me and my mental state. (my pulse actually slowed to its normal 75-80 bps to 55-60). Part Of me (the sane part) knew what I was doing but seemed powerless and as if i was looking in from the outside of me, the other part of me wanted to switch off and die. After a while with the help of many others I staged the situation I was in before the breakdown, same dealer, same opponent witnesses and seating position. I was instructed step by step what to do while playing including being to told to pick up the 2 cards to see how good they were, when I did I then wanted to know what was a good and bad card so spent 5 mins or so showing the cards to every one for their opinion...I honestly had no idea what-so-ever.
Slowly though the clogs in my brain started to slip back in to place and bit by bit i came back to a sane consciousness and eventually to most people present I appeared to be completely back to normal, however I wasn't and I knew I wasn’t, I had just suppressed it to allow everyone to enjoy their build up to record being broken, the subsequent celebrations and mostly to ease their to ease their worries. When the record was broken I carried on as long as I felt safe in my own mind to do so. So with my priority being family and friends I decide to stop to the clear relief and celebrations of everyone who was there.
So anyway, there is a massive amount of information that needs to be compiled including witness statements, handover sheets, record log, match account details, video footage and even card by card hand details. When I have gone through the latter I will give you all the statistics (although I am slightly nervous about that lol). As promised I will also give all the detailed accounts of the funds raised for the charities.
Finally I want to say a massive massive thank you to everyone who got involved, especially John Casper Hussey who gave up all of his summer school holiday (from teaching) to design and build the site. Also (far to many to name in person) all the witnesses, stewards, dealers and support staff who worked around the clock prior and during the event-some of who event took annual leave to be able to help. The players who came and paid their money to play -none of which wanted anything in return even if they beat me, fantastic and very generous thank you. I also want thank Dom and his fantastic staff at the Library bar, you are a legend mate. The Wednesday morning guys (you all know who you are) who sang joked and drank their encouragement when I was at my most tired and finally of course my lovely partner Kay who has done so much in every way to help but has also had to suffer the consequences of my stressful periods, thank you sweetheart.
Dave ‘Alfa’ Cain
World Record Holder
PS. There is a celebration party at the Library bar TONIGHT with many local bands playing, everyone is welcome to attend.